Stand structure and biomass estimation in the Klang Islands Mangrove Forest, Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

A study was carried out at three sites in the Klang Islands Mangrove Forest Reserve, in Selangor, Malaysia, to obtain baseline information on how land use could affect forest community metrics. The objective was to obtain baseline ecological data that would allow assessment of different land-use types (industrial, village, and pristine mangrove forests) on species composition, stand density, diversity, similarity, important value index, and biomass. Undisturbed pristine mangrove forest was sampled at Pulau Klang, while disturbed mangrove forests were sampled at Teluk Gong and Pulau Ketam. A total of 14 species from five families were counted across the three sites, with the highest tree density found at Pulau Ketam (2034 trees ha−1), followed by Pulau Klang and Teluk Gong (1627 and 753 trees ha−1, respectively). The dominant species on Pulau Klang and Pulau Ketam was Rhizophora apiculata (importance value index, IVI = 181.4). Shannon–Weaver diversity was highest at Pulau Ketam (H′ = 1.81) and the tree species on that island were also the most evenly distributed (Pielou evenness index, J′ = 0.87). The highest above-ground and below-ground biomass values for a single species were recorded at Pulau Klang for R. apiculata (80.51 and 41.63 t ha−1, respectively), while the second highest values were at Teluk Gong for Rhizophora mucronata (71.33 and 27.07 t ha−1, respectively). As a whole, however, the remaining large trees in a disturbed site in Teluk Gong contributed to the highest total biomass (220.64 t ha−1) followed by Pulau Klang and Pulau Ketam (192.22 and 161.93 t ha−1, respectively). Proper assessment and management of these valuable mangrove forests are crucial to ensure mangrove ecosystem health.